Lex

Posted on by
2

I love Lex. Have I mentioned this lately? He has been telling me that he needs a better railroad crossing sign and some additional signage for his trains. I suggested perhaps we use clay and popsicle sticks to make some and he was thrilled! I love that he doesn’t want everything to be store bought or branded or just perfect. We got out the clay and he went to work. I was thinking a clay base, stick post, and paper sign, but Lex thought clay signs would be better. He also decided to make the base for the RR sign. “It looks like it’s secured in a slab of concrete!”

railroad signs

Railroad signs. He laughed when I ran out of room to write yield. :)

painting

We did some painting today. Lex painted his signs (if you look closely you can see the silver bases in front of him), Eve painted acorns we gathered today, and I painted the ugly mirror we've had forever. I'm going to make it pretty and white and hang it in their room.

Yesterday we played Sorry. Eve quit early, I won the game, Alan came in second, and then Lex proceeded to draw cards until he got all of his players around the board. Alan and I came and went and Lex persisted. When he finished he jumped up and excitedly yelled, “I came in third!!!” He’s so funny!!

sorry

He's going the distance...

Lex also will smile for a camera now. That makes me sooooooo happy! So happy I don’t have to take pictures of the back of his head or be superman quick with the camera. Now he’ll sit still and smile and sometimes he even suggests we take a picture! I love it! :)

hugs

Hugs at the dinner table.

Photo heavy blog

Posted on by
Reply

I’m realizing this blog is pretty photo heavy lately. I have a TON on my mind, but not much makes it to the blog anymore. I leave my computer off during the days for the most part, so when I turn it on every few nights and try to blog I usually find myself mindless. Uploading photos is an easy way out… and probably what most of you want anyway! :) Maybe when we eventually settle into a fall routine I’ll have more brain power, or maybe not. We’ll have to see. For now we are enjoying the cooling weather and the kids have started talking about jumping in the leaves again. I do believe fall weather has arrived.

Eve

Posted on by
1

I took pictures off the camera today and found they were all of Eve! Guess that’s what happens when Lex spends all day in school.

all dolled up

Eve, all dolled up :)

tiny toes

She was sitting on her feet, playing with the trains, and I couldn't resist her adorable toes. The picture barely captures the total sweetness of her little pile of toes.

love for grandpa tom

Love for Grandpa Tom

more love

even more love

Eve likes to make movies with the camera. Every time I turn it on she asks if we can make a movie, however she seems to forget what that actually means, so movies of her lately start with her smiling and me reminding her that she has to do something if we make a movie :) Here she is, doing something.

First week of kindergarten

Posted on by
Reply

Lex successfully completed his first week of kindergarten! Go Lex! He is exhausted and told me that he wants to sleep all day tomorrow. We’ll see about that! His teacher sent home an interesting packet of information today. Apparently they had a fire drill and lock down drill this week. He told me about the lock down drill, but then said he was too tired to tell me anything else :) The letter had lots of information that I was hoping to learn, such as what he does each day for activities (library, art, etc.) and what those teachers’ names are. He doesn’t always remember them. We talked to the bus driver this afternoon and learned his name. I also got an email from another parent today asking if I’d help with the walk/bike to school Thursdays. I think I will! :)

We are ready for a slow three day weekend and then hopefully we can start settling in to a school year routine. Eve starts preschool on the 14th and that will bring more changes, but I think she’ll love it. I’m ready for the routine to set in and the pace to slow down. But mostly I’m thrilled that Lex loves school!

Driving a Prius!

Posted on by
Reply

Have you heard the expression, “when it rains, it pours?” Well we have some serious weather over here!! The latest downpour, and hopefully the last, is that our 10yr old Saturn needed to be replaced. Alan drove home Tuesday night with loud rattling noises and other not right stuff. Brought it to the mechanic and was given a fatal diagnosis. Something about metal flecks in the engine… or something. So we needed to buy a new car, asap. This is a tough job as it is, but add in additional bankruptcy paperwork and the impending Labor Day long weekend and we were sweating this process. Fortunately Alan was able to find a good car and work a good deal, then our credit union and bankruptcy people were quick moving, and we were able to buy the car at 4:30pm on a Friday afternoon! Whew! Mostly a relief that we don’t have to think about this for three days and then continue the process on Tuesday. Now we can breath and maybe even relax for a few minutes before we have to deal with something else.

new car

Our shiney new (to us) car.

reading the manual

Happy Alan reading the manual to Eve.

I also added a few new quotes from the kids.

Walk/bike to school day

Posted on by
1

walking to school

Thursdays are walk/bike to school day in our district. With that in mind Alan and Lex set off to walk to school. Lex, Eve and I did the walk on Tuesday as well, but I underestimated the time (or underestimated how slow the kids walk!) and we were late for school, so Lex was a little nervous to try it again. They got out the door nice and early (and didn’t have Eve to slow them down) and made it to school right on time. We may try a family walk tomorrow. Leaving very early! :)

The trees are gone!

Posted on by
1
missing trees

See the two stumps just right of center? One has a rather large rock on it. There used to be rather large pine trees there. Now we have sunshine.

wood pile

I don't think this wood pile is properly stacked. That will be a project for another day.

from the backyard

From the backyard, looking towards the street, with our new sunny patch of lawn in the front right.

maple tree

He also trimmed many limbs from this maple tree. Leaves on the limbs were gently resting on the roof. For some reason insurance considers that to be dangerous :)

First day of kindergarten

Posted on by
Reply

Today was the big day! Guess what?! He did awesome! He woke up this morning and announced that he would like to stay home with me today and go to school next week. :) After I explained that things don’t really work that way he decide to be excited for school. Did his morning routine, played, and happily got in the car when it was time to go. He got a bit nervous again when we got to school and he saw all the cars. “Mom, there really are a lot of people here today.” His feet started to drag as we got closer to the classroom, but once we got in he hung up his bag, said good morning to his teacher and answered her questions, and then went to play. No tears, no fuss. I had to go ask for a hug goodbye. It was awesome. I wonder how long it will last :)

lunch

First day of school lunch: peanut butter and homemade blueberry jam on homemade whole wheat bread, watermelon, pineapple sunshine muffins, and carrot sticks. His choice and he loved it!

playing

I asked him several times if he would pose for a first day of school picture and each time he politely declined. I decided not to force the issue, so this is what we have instead. I'm pretty sure the girl next to him is his new friend.

puzzle

Nothing like a good puzzle to start your morning off right!

I was super nervous about the bus, as you know, but I talked to the lady in the office this morning in charge of bus stuff and she (mostly) clarified things for me. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Eve and I went out at 3pm and the bus came, stopped, and dropped off Lex. Aaahhh… survived the first day! :) He apparently had a blast. He told me all the things he did and he had recess and lunch and even made a friend. He said over and over how much fun he had. He’s so sweet! He even asked if he can ride the bus in the morning too… which I’ll have to think about. This week we are sticking to the mommy drop-off routine.

off the bus

He made it home, safe and sound! Whew!! Doesn't he look so tiny compared to the bus? :)

into the house

All the way up the street he kept telling me how much fun he had and how tired he was. I thought we could sit outside and watch the tree guys work, but he wanted nothing more than to go into his house and relax. Can't argue with that.

bento box snacks

Lex decided he wanted to finish his lunch for afternoon snack. Works for me! Eve decided she wanted a bento box snack as well, so I threw a few things in her lunch box and she was thrilled.

watching through the window

We spent a lot of the afternoon watching the tree guys through the window. The kids didn't want to go outside (too noisy), but it was pretty cool to watch the work. They will be back tomorrow to finish the job and I'll post pics then.